‘Very professional’ AFC Portchester avoid FA Cup banana skin tie against lower division Sandhurst

Rob Evans, right, was on target as AFC Portchester eased into the preliminary qualifying round of the FA Cup against Sandhurst. Picture: Keith Woodland

The Royals only led by a single goal at half-time but three goals in five minutes at the start of the second period killed the tie off.

Manager Mick Catlin believed it was a job well done, earning his side a first FA Cup win in three years, against a side from one step lower on the non-league ladder.

'We had to work hard in the first half because Sandhurst were very lively for the first 20 minutes,' said Catlin, whose side had lost to lower division opponents in the last two FA Cup campaigns.

'During that period we had to defend well.

'They were full of running but we weathered that spell.

'Our first goal arrived just at the right time and took a bit of sting out of the game.

'The half-time team talk was all about if we could continue to defend properly then we would get further chances.

'That is what happened and we were clinical when they came along.

Lee Wort could easily have scored four or five.

'Our quickfire three goals knocked the stuffing out of them.

'Apart from a shot towards the end I don't think they had a shot on our goal.

'The way we defended and kept a clean sheet was very pleasing.

'We were very professional in how we saw out the game.'

With six new players in their line-up, it wasn't surprising that the Royals took a little time to settle down.

Liam Hibberd, Luke Dempsey, Craig Harding, Joe Chamberlain, Wort and Toby Adekule all made their competitive Royals debut.

Dempsey was prominent in the early stages when Sandhurst, from the Combined Counties League, were at their most threatening.

The all-important breakthrough arrived three minutes before half-time with substitute Joe Johnson making a dramatic entrance.

Johnson had only been on the pitch two minutes after replacing the injured Josh Hanratty.

He latched onto a header forward and, from the edge of the area, crashed his low shot just inside the post.

Two goals by Harding sandwiched one by Rob Evans as the Royals took charge at the start of the second period.

After that the home side easily held their opponents at bay to progress into the next round when they will travel to two divisions higher Wimborne Town in the preliminary round on Saturday, September 12.

AFC Portchester: Snelling, Hibberd, Cripps, Castle, Dempsey (Hardy 75), Chamberlain, Evans, Hanratty (Johnson 41), Harding (Molyneaux 72), Wort, Adekunle.